Ron Ziegler

Ronald Louis Ziegler (May 12, 1939 – February 10, 2003) was White House Press Secretary during United States President Richard Nixon's administration, from 1969–1974, and Assistant to the President in 1974.

Related Topics:
May 12 - 1939 - February 10 - 2003 - White House Press Secretary - United States - Richard Nixon - 1969 - 1974

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Ziegler was born in Covington, Kentucky. First attending college in Cincinnati, Ziegler transfered to the University of Southern California in 1958, and graduated in 1961 with a degree in government and politics

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He worked as a press aide on Nixon's unsuccessful California gubernatorial campaign in 1962. In 1969, when he was just 29, Ziegler became the youngest White House Press Secretary in history. He was the White House press secretary for the Nixon administration during the political scandal known as Watergate. He initially dismissed the break-in at the Watergate Hotel as a "third rate burglary," but within a year of making this statement, Nixon had resigned under threat of impeachment, and most of his administration was under indictment and headed for prison.

Related Topics:
California - 1962 - Watergate - Watergate Hotel - Impeachment

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Particularly in the period following the resignations of such senior administration officials as Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, Ziegler became one of Nixon's closest aides and confidants, defending the President until the bitter end, urging Nixon not to resign, but rather fight impeachment in the Senate. During the unfolding political scandal, Ziegler himself appeared at least 33 times before Congress. Despite Nixon's resignation in 1974, Ziegler remained very close to him and was even aboard the airplane that Nixon took to San Clemente as Gerald Ford was sworn into office.

Related Topics:
Bob Haldeman - John Ehrlichman - Impeachment - Senate

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